What Does An Instructor, Faculty Do

Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. They teach academic and technical content to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.

Duties

Career and technical education teachers typically do the following:

Create lesson plans and assignments

Instruct students on how to develop certain skills

Show how to apply classroom knowledge through hands-on activities

Demonstrate and supervise the safe and proper use of tools and equipment

Monitor students’ progress, assign tasks, and grade assignments

Discuss students’ progress with parents, students, and counselors

Develop and enforce classroom rules and safety procedures

Career and technical education teachers help students explore and prepare to enter a specific occupation, in fields such as healthcare or information technology. They use a variety of teaching techniques to help students learn and develop skills related to a specific career or field of study. They demonstrate tasks, techniques, and tools used in an occupation. They may assign hands-on tasks, such as replacing brakes on cars, taking blood pressure, or recording vital signs. Teachers typically oversee these tasks in workshops and laboratories in the school.

Some teachers establish relationships with local businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide practical work experience for students. They also serve as advisers to students participating in career and technical student organizations.

The specific duties of career and technical education teachers vary by the grade and subject they teach. In middle schools and high schools, they teach general concepts in a classroom and through practical exercises in workshops and laboratories.

In postsecondary schools, they teach specific career skills that help students earn a certificate, diploma, or an associate’s degree, and prepare them for a specific job. For example, welding instructors teach students various welding techniques and essential safety practices. They also monitor the use of tools and equipment, and have students practice procedures until they meet the specific standards required by the trade.

In most states, teachers in middle and high schools instruct one subject within the 16 major career fields, also known as Career Clusters. For example, the career cluster known as architecture and construction includes instruction in designing, planning, managing, building, and maintaining structures.

Teachers instructing courses in agricultural, food, and natural resources teach topics such as agricultural production; agriculture-related business; veterinary science; and plant, animal, and food systems. For example, they may have students plant and care for crops and tend to animals so that students can apply what they have learned in the classroom.

Career and technical education teachers in hospitality and tourism teach students in subjects such as nutrition, culinary arts, or hotel lodging. For example, teachers may instruct and supervise students in creating menus and preparing food.

Some teach the skills necessary to work as technicians and assistants, such as nursing and dental assistants in health-science occupations.

For information on all 16 major Career Clusters and programs in all other states, visit National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium.

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How To Become An Instructor, Faculty

Career and technical education teachers must have a bachelor’s degree. They also need work experience in the subject they teach. Some teachers, particularly those in public schools, also may be required to have a state-issued certification or license. Requirements for certification vary by state.

Education

Career and technical education teachers in public schools generally need a bachelor’s degree in the field they teach, such as agriculture, engineering, or computer science.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Many career and technical education teachers need work experience in the field they teach. For example, automotive mechanics, chefs, and nurses typically spend years in their career before moving into teaching.

Training

Some states require prospective career and technical education teachers to complete a period of fieldwork, commonly referred to as student teaching. In some states, this program is a prerequisite for a license to teach in public schools. During student teaching, prospective teachers gain experience in preparing lessons and teaching students under the supervision and guidance of a mentor teacher. The amount of time required for these programs varies by state, but may last from 1 to 2 years.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

States may require career and technical education teachers in public schools to be licensed or certified. Requirements for certification vary by state. Most states require teachers to pass a background check.

Certification typically requires completing a student teaching program and a bachelor’s degree. States usually require candidates to pass a general teaching certification test.

Teachers may be required to complete annual professional development courses to maintain their license. For certification requirements in your state, visit Teach.org.

Some states offer an alternative route to certification for prospective teachers who have a bachelor’s degree or work experience in their field, but lack the education courses required for certification. Alternative programs typically cover teaching methods, development of lesson plans, and classroom management.

In addition to teaching certification, career and technical education teachers who prepare students for an occupation that requires a license or certification may need to have and maintain the same credential. For example, career and technical education teachers who instruct welding may need to have certification in welding.

Advancement

Experienced teachers can advance to become mentors and lead teachers, helping less experienced teachers to improve their teaching skills.

Teachers may become school counselors, instructional coordinators, or principals. These positions generally require additional education, an advanced degree, or certification. An advanced degree in education administration or leadership may be helpful.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Career and technical education teachers must be able to explain technical concepts in terms that students can understand.

Organizational skills. Career and technical education teachers have many students in different classes throughout the day. They must be able to organize their time and teaching materials.

Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. Teachers must be patient with each student in their classroom and develop a positive learning environment.

Resourcefulness. Teachers need to be able to develop different ways of presenting information and demonstrating tasks so that students can learn.

The national average salary for an Instructor, Faculty in the United States is $57,958 per year or $28 per hour. Those in the bottom 10 percent make under $40,000 a year, and the top 10 percent make over $82,000.

Real Instructor, Faculty Salaries

Job Title

Company

Location

Start Date

Salary

Faculty (Junior Rank)-Instructor

The University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

Jul 01, 2010

$164,500

Math Instructional Faculty

California State University, Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA

May 23, 2016

$112,698

Math Instructional Faculty

California State University, Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA

May 20, 2016

$112,698

Faculty Instructor-Engineering

Grand Valley State University

Grand Rapids, MI

Oct 05, 2009

$104,350

Faculty/Instructor

Bard College

Hudson, NY

Jan 01, 2012

$104,350

Instructional Design Faculty

Franklin University

Columbus, OH

Nov 15, 2014

$80,210

Instructional Design Faculty

Franklin University

Columbus, OH

Dec 16, 2014

$80,000

Instructional Design Faculty

Franklin University

Columbus, OH

Sep 09, 2014

$79,035

Instructional Design Faculty

Franklin University

Columbus, OH

Dec 11, 2012

$78,151

Faculty Instructor

University of Pittsburgh

Fort Campbell North, KY

Apr 01, 2012

$75,276

Faculty Instructor

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY

Sep 30, 2011

$75,000

Instructional Faculty, Physics

Alamo Community College District

San Antonio, TX

Jan 07, 2010

$68,401

Nursing Instructor, Faculty

Skagit Valley College

Oak Harbor, WA

Feb 10, 2015

$62,610 -$125,220

Faculty, Traditional Chinese Medicine Instructor

Natural College of Natural Medicine

Portland, OR

Oct 30, 2009

$60,935

Faculty Instructor

Alpena Community College

Alpena, MI

Aug 22, 2014

$60,145 -$78,382

Faculty Instructor

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Nov 15, 2015

$56,662

Instructional Development Faculty

The Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

Jun 01, 2013

$55,000

Faculty Instructor

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA

May 16, 2010

$54,930

Instructional Support Associate/Faculty Instructio

State University of New York Empire State College

New York, NY

Apr 12, 2012

$50,000

Instructional Technology-A & P Faculty

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

Oct 18, 2007

$50,000

Faculty, Classical Chinese Medicine Instructor

National College of Natural Medicine, NCNM

Portland, OR

Sep 13, 2010

$50,000

Instructional Technology Faculty

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

Apr 01, 2011

$50,000

Faculty, Instructor Level

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO

Jul 01, 2011

$48,040 -$55,000

Jchs Faculty-Instructor

Carilion Medical Center

Roanoke, VA

Aug 10, 2015

$47,563

Jchs Faculty-Instructor

Carilion Medical Center

Roanoke, VA

Jul 25, 2015

$47,563

Faculty Instructor

Alpena Community College

Alpena, MI

Aug 22, 2014

$47,378 -$78,382

Faculty/Instructor

The Art Institute of Tucson

Tucson, AZ

Jul 01, 2010

$47,000

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